Nutrient management productivity and nutrient-use efficiency in floodplain soils under maize (Zea mays)-wheat (Triticum aestivum) cropping

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to evaluated the impacts of inorganic fertilizers applied either alone or conjointly with farmyard manure (FYM) on yield, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K)-use efficiency and economics of maize (Zea mays L.)-wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cropping in floodplain soils. Farmers' field experiments were conducted at three locations with five treatments: absolute control (CK), farmers' practice (FP), recommended NPK (NPK), NPK+FYM and FP+FYM in maize and the same treatments were applied without FYM in wheat. Grain yield and nutrient (N, P and K) uptake increased significantly (P<0.05) with fertilizer application; the highest uptake being in NPK+FYM and the lowest in the CK. Application of NPK+FYM significantly improved agronomic efficiency (AE), physiological efficiency (PE) and recovery efficiency (RE) of N, P and K, over NPK alone. Gross returns above fertilizer cost (GRAFC) increased with NPK+FYM applications, relative to NPK alone. Therefore, NPK+FYM applications could be used to enhance crop productivity and nutrient-use efficiency in these soils.